Former Granville Town and current Washington County Democratic Chairwoman Sheila Comar has been named chairwoman of the state Democratic Committee’s Executive Committee, the second highest ranked position in the party in the state. Comar was named to the position by a unanimous vote.

“I’m quite humbled because I am a chair of a rural upstate county that does not have a lot of Democrats elected,” Comar said. Comar replced June O’Neil who retired from the position.

Although she said she often feels like she’s fighting against the tide as a Democrat trying to get fellow Democrats elected to office “I know I don’t give up,” she said.

In this position Comar will run the committee and county chair meetings twice each year. Duties include traveling the state to attend meetings and caucuses and to pass on local concerns to the state party chairman and executive director. Comar has been the county chairwoman since 2004.

Jay Jacobs state party chair who is also the chair of the Nassau County Democratic party and Charlie King execute director are both from areas well down state.

Comar said she wants to be a voice for upstate in the downstate dominated party, a voice that can appeal to both sides of the aisle.

“All the values of the rural counties are the same when it comes down to it there are no differences between the Republicans and the Democrats. We all want the same things we want low taxes and jobs so we can make a good life for our families,” Comar said.

Comargrew up in Lake George, and attended Adirondack Community College before receiving a BA from the University of Connecticut.

She has worked for 30 years in the title insurance industry serving on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association before retiring in April 2011 from Vermont Attorneys Title Corporation.

She serves on the Board of Directors of the Slate Valley Museum in Granville and is past president and current member of the Granville Lions Club. Comar joined the Granville Democratic Committee in 2000 serving as its chair, then secretary of the Washington County Democratic Committee prior to becoming county chair in 2004. Comar joined the Democratic Rural Conference in 2002 and has been a member of the NYS Democratic Party Executive Committee for the past 4 years as Assistant Treasurer. She lives in Middle Granville with her husband, Lee, on a small farm in a restored historic house built in 1832 (The Pepper Homestead and Brickyard). She has two married children: Scott lives in Texas with wife Maria and their son Joseph; and Jennifer now resides in Melbourne, Australia with husband Greg Daley and their daughter Lenora.

“As a Democrat, I have continuously struggled to find a welcome inclusion in rural upstate government. This is slowly changing. It is my goal as chair of the executive committee to support and promote the values that rural as well as urban Democrats share. Democrats working together can make a difference,” Comar said.